204 FRANCIS ORPEN MORRIS 



glad to find it a good home, as I can easily do if I 

 do not keep it myself. I am writing in haste to 

 save the post. I am, my dear Sir, yours faith- 

 fully, C. C. B." 



The Hawk was accordingly sent off by train in a 

 hamper, with "refreshments" for the journey, most 

 of which it consumed, and at the same time an 

 invoice was forwarded by post to the supposed 

 owner. What followed will speak for itself : 



'-'January i, 1874. 



" MY DEAR SIR, I am very much obliged to you 

 for sending the Hawk. It is not mine, but one of 

 the same species, and has evidently been a pet of 

 some one who has been as unfortunate as myself. 

 We will keep it ourselves (that is to say, Mrs. B. 

 and myself), and you may be assured it will be 

 taken good care of, as we now understand the ways 

 of Hawks, so that our kindness will not be made 

 to take the shape of cruelty. We yet hope to get 

 the other one again as a companion to it, and I 

 have two more at the Royal Military College, Sand- 

 hurst, where I have an appointment, so that 

 altogether we may hope that the poor little thing 

 will be happy when it has ceased to be strange," 

 &c., &c., &c. c. C. B." 



After this came the last chapter, or rather the 

 last but one, in the history of the bird : 



